Instructors
Proprietor and Chief Instructor
Mary Stitson BHSII & BHSSM
Mary qualified as a BHSAI (Assistant Instructor) in 1990, gained the Intermediate Teaching Test in 1998 and the prestigious BHS Stable Manager Exam in 2002.
Mary has been teaching and training horses for twenty years. Her background is very classical, based on the way the great horse masters have worked and taught over the centuries. At the same time she is aware of the modern insights and approaches to training.
She believes passionately in the correct way of training all horses and riders and ensures that the students and instructors at Courses for Horses follow the same ethos.
She has competed at dressage up to Medium level.
Although not competing at show jumping nowadays, she trained with an instructor who was riding at top-level shows, such as the Royal Windsor, so imbibed a true knowledge of what is needed for success in this field.
She only teaches advanced riders. Lessons take place on weekdays during the daytime. They can only be booked directly with her.
Our Assistant Instructors
Our assistant instructors are all BHS-qualified at various levels and are graded accordingly.
They are all working to improve their knowledge and gain further qualifications.
Some of them compete on their own horses.
Most have been trained here so that there is a recognisable 'in-house' style.
They have an understanding of riders who have come back to riding after a long break or have lost their confidence, as well as being good at progressing beginners.
They receive private lessons on a regular basis from Mary or Emma, so that they can understand our horses better and develop their teaching techniques.
Some also have degrees which make them well-qualified to run courses and deal with children in the activities after school and in the holidays.